Great Northern Hotel — Restaurant in Melbourne

Compared to last time we were here, this visit was extremely disappointing. We called ahead to make a booking and specifically asked not to be seated near the toilets - apparently it was no problem. When we arrived, we were given our table (18), and it was LITERALLY right at the toilet door. The table could seat about 8 (our booking was for 2), and we could see there was another table (13) which was further away and seated about the same amount of people.

I asked the girl at the bar about moving tables, and she argued with me about toilets not being that close. I said they are, and she told me we can sit at the other end in the doorway to outside. It was a freezing night, so that wasn't an option, hence the reason we also requested to be inside when we called.

I mentioned the other table and she said she can't seat us there because we're only two people and thats for a bigger group (noone had reserved it though, she meant more people could sit there) but our table was already for 8 anyway! She audibly huffed at me, and changed our table to number 2 - which is about a metre away from the bar once you sit.

Glad at least to be away from the toilet, we now had to contend with being constantly bumped and having butts in our faces from people congregating at the bar.

The reason is they have stuffed so many tables into a small area to try and maximise money and noone can move. Packed in like sardines. Last time we were here we were in the dog area so had no idea the inside was that bad.

Our dinner was mediocre this time, the dessert was good (I don't think they make it), but the attitude and treatment we got from that girl was disgusting. We're so pissed off.

That was our anniversary redo because ours was overshadowed by putting our dog down, and this was the night we ended up with.

I took photos of the table so you can see how "not that close" the table was to the toilet and the doorway to the freezing...

This place use to put the "GREAT" in great northern but these days it ain't so great at all. Over the last 9 months it has gradually declined from the food to the service once upon a time it use to be cheers the staff were friendly and everyone knew your name, the food was great.

Now well what can I say the last 3 times I've been here the staff in one way or another messed up, forgot or taken my food order to the wrong person. The bar service is RUDE and average and slow, the staff give you stink eye when your trying to order anything from them. If you say anything to them question them. In any way you get rude back chat, Thats not cool especially when it's customers who pay the bills..

The bar staff are way too cool school and have zero to give anyone 100% of the time. They make you feel like its a priveledge to be there like you should be honoured that you get to go to great northern... Its not great Its just another average corner pub now.

My heart goes out because a place I onced love is no more...

To sum up..

What has happened? What have we done to deserve this?..

The food is average at best! and the service really really really sucks.. I can only hope someone from there reads this and things get better as for me I will never return. Unfortunate because I loved the gn.. I guess this is a break up and all good things must...

Went there on Saturday for lunch with my son who's coeliac and food paranoid, emailed ahead to check that the menu would be ok and got a response back letting me know all would be ok. Arrived there and let them know again and about the food allergy and was reassured they could help and can I say as a parent to a coeliac child who's massively paranoid about getting glutened this was a major relief.

Ordered lunch and the apprentice human decided on the chicken wings sans hot sauce which the kitchen thought would be the most appealing option to Mr 11. The Chef however had some concern over the seasoning that the was on the wings and came to the table to let us know he was not 100 % confident and instead offered a variety of other options he could make personally and guarantee to be safe. This made my son feel very, very comfortable and indeed he smashed his way through the Calamari he chose.

Brilliant pub and even more brilliant staff, thank you for being so...